Contractors working with UMBC Facilities Management will utilize a helicopter to remove existing, and install new mechanical equipment, on the roof of the Biological Sciences building. The helicopter lift will occur on Saturday, July 11, 2026, between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. If weather conditions prevent the lift from taking place on July 11, the operation will be rescheduled for Sunday, July 12, 2026, during the same timeframe.

During the helicopter lift operation, the following buildings will be closed:

• Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery
• Meyerhoff Chemistry Building
• Biological Sciences Building
• The Commons

This means all entry into the ILSB this Saturday morning will need to be from the east entrance facing the Physics Building / Commons Drive. 

Facilities Management has worked closely with numerous campus partners, including Environmental Safety & Health, UMBC Police, Student Affairs, Student Disability Services, Event & Conference Services, Parking, Departmental Leadership, and other Campus Stakeholders to coordinate this operation. Our collective goal is to complete this work safely while minimizing disruption to the campus community.

A map showing the affected work area and pedestrian restrictions is attached to this post.

For everyone's safety, all observers must remain behind the "General Public Perimeter" marked with yellow caution tape. Facilities Management staff and UMBC Police officers will be stationed at strategic points along the perimeter to assist pedestrians and drivers navigating the area.

For those who wish to observe the helicopter operation, three designated public viewing areas have been established:

• Between Erickson Field and Erickson Hall
• Between the Physics and Public Policy buildings
• The small parking area between the Chemistry Building and the Fine Arts Building

We ask all members of the campus community to avoid the restricted work area, follow posted signage, and comply with directions provided by Facilities Management staff and UMBC Police.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we complete this important project to improve the Biological Sciences building. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe environment throughout this operation.

Welcome to July's edition of USM Accessibility in Action! This month, we're celebrating USM excellence and helping you strengthen one of the most fundamental accessibility skills: writing meaningful alt text.

Celebrating USM Excellence: Two Blackboard Catalyst Awards

We're excited to celebrate two University System of Maryland institutions recognized with 2026 Blackboard Catalyst Awards for their outstanding leadership in accessibility and professional development.

Coppin State University won the Innovation in Accessibility Award for the Innovation, Development, Education, and Assessment (IDEA) Team. Coppin's IDEA Team exemplifies institutional leadership in accessibility by transforming inclusive design into a sustained campus practice through strategic use of Blackboard Ultra and Ally. Rather than approaching accessibility as a compliance obligation, the team embedded it into everyday teaching and learning, equipping faculty to create accessible, engaging learning environments as a standard expectation. Through sustained professional development and cross-campus collaboration, the team built a proactive and durable culture of accessibility. By extending this work into ADA Title II readiness, the IDEA Team has established a scalable, high-impact model that removes barriers, strengthens student success, and sets a compelling benchmark for accessibility leadership in higher education.

UMBC received the Training and Professional Development Award for the Course Roadmap to Equity (CoRE) initiative. This phased digital accessibility program builds lasting faculty competency through live professional development and a structured self-paced microcredential in Blackboard. Recognizing accessibility as both a legal obligation and an equity imperative, UMBC designed CoRE to meet faculty where they are, offering flexible pathways for varying schedules and expertise levels. In Fall 2025, 350+ faculty and staff attended live workshops and used Blackboard Ally to generate accessibility reports. Institutional Ally accessibility scores rose from 66.5% to 78.7%—a 12.2 point gain. Results directly informed the CoRE microcredential program with multiple pathways and achievements, recognizing faculty commitment to equitable course design.

These awards reflect the innovative, equity-centered work happening across USM and they show what’s possible when accessibility becomes a shared institutional priority. Congratulations to both teams!

Register Now: Ready, Set, Accessible Fall Course Prep Day

Monday, August 3, 2026 | 9:30 AM-12:30 PM ET | Zoom

Start the fall semester with course materials that are more accessible, usable, and inclusive for all learners. This half-day virtual event is designed to help faculty take practical, manageable steps to improve the accessibility of their courses before classes begin.

Across three focused sessions, participants will learn how to:

• Evaluate course resources for accessibility

• Redesign assignments with accessibility in mind

• Design learning experiences that support students with a range of sensory, cognitive, technological, and learning needs

Whether you're updating an existing course, preparing new materials, or looking for a realistic place to begin, this day will offer concrete strategies, examples, and tools you can apply right away. Faculty are invited to attend one session or participate in the full half-day event.

Register Now 

July Challenge: Alt Text in Action

This month, practice writing meaningful alternative text for images in your materials. To help you master this skill, we recommend exploring this comprehensive Guide to Writing Meaningful Alt Text from Section508.gov.

Quick Tips for Success:

• Focus on Meaning, Not Appearance: Instead of describing what an image looks like (e.g., "A person in a suit"), describe the information it conveys (e.g., "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.").

• Include Text Word-for-Word: If an image contains text (like an event flyer), that text must be included in the alt text so screen reader users don't miss vital details.

• Context is Key: A photo of a building might need different alt text in a History course than it does in an Architecture course. Ask yourself: What would a user miss if this image didn't load?

• Don't Repeat Yourself: If the surrounding paragraph already explains the chart's data, your alt text can be brief. Just ensure it still identifies the image’s purpose so screen reader users know what the object is.

The Challenge: Choose 3–5 images in your own materials and update their alt text using these principles. You’ll likely find that clarifying your images for accessibility actually makes your core concepts clearer for everyone! Post your insights on LinkedIn using #USMAccessibility so we can all learn from each other.

Get Involved

Whether you’re ready to lead, want to share an accessibility success story, or are looking for practical guidance, we want to hear from you.

Register for Ready, Set, Accessible Fall Course Prep Day

Share or Nominate an Accessibility Win

Visit the USM Digital Accessibility Hub

Repost from the USM Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation and the USM Digital Accessibility Work Group.

Hello everyone!

Just as a reminder, we'll be at the gathering space for the rest of the summer.

We hope to see you there!

Dear colleagues, 

I am writing to inform you that Dana Burr Bradley has stepped down from her position as dean of the Erickson School of Aging Studies effective July 1. 

Nancy Kusmaul will assume interim leadership of the Erickson School of Aging. I am grateful to Nancy for her willingness to serve in this important role and provide continuity during the transition. 

Dana will be taking a one-year sabbatical before returning to her faculty role in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Public Health. Please join me in thanking her for her many years of service and leadership at UMBC. 

As dean, Dana excelled at generating funding, and guiding implementation of ideas that have improved outcomes for many students, faculty, and older people and provided resources so many can thrive.

Dana joined UMBC in 2018 and quickly developed the Erickson School of Aging Studies’ potential, focusing on expanding its portfolio to include three new minors, two graduate certificates, an accelerated master’s program, and new initiatives in technology and senior housing and care. 

Under her leadership, enrollment in aging courses grew by 75% over six years. Today, more than half of all UMBC undergraduates complete at least one aging course. She added two endowed scholarships to the Erickson portfolio and founded the Center for Community, Innovation and Aging and the Institute for Financial Longevity, both established through external gifts, extending the educational reach of longevity into domains of urgent public relevance. 

Please join me in thanking Dana for her dedication, thoughtful leadership, and commitment to growing and expanding aging studies at UMBC.

Sincerely,

Manfred H. M. van Dulmen
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

1 Room Available in a Fully Furnished & Newly Renovated Townhouse with Easy Access to UMBC and Downtown Baltimore

Location: Edmonson Avenue (Just 15 minutes from UMBC)

Male tenants only!

Features:

• Fully equipped kitchen with gas stove, fridge/freezer, airfryer, pressure cooker, oven, microwave, and dishwasher, etc.
• Very spacious basement - for recreational purposes
• Very spacious and furnished common area with sofa & TV
• In-unit laundry for added convenience
• 24/7 outdoor surveillance systems
• Dedicated parking space
• Amazon Delivery locker for safe storage of packages.

Location Perks:

• Located along Baltimore National Pike – Easy access to major stores on Route 40: Walmart, Giant, Sam’s Club & every choice restaurant
• MTA Bus stop right beside the house – Direct access to downtown Baltimore

 Rent & Utilities:

Rent and Utilities included. Price is $600.

To schedule a tour! Text me on +1 443-657-3191

See pictures below

The Reach Together Tutoring Program is officially hiring Math Coaches for the upcoming 2026–2027 school year!

We are searching for motivated, dynamic UMBC community members who want to make a tangible difference in the lives of local elementary and middle school students. If you have a desire to mentor, serve, and help students succeed, we want you on our team.

Position Overview

UMBC Math Coaches provide targeted math intervention for students in grades 1–8 across Baltimore City and Baltimore County Public Schools.

• The Commitment: Tutoring a small cluster of students (2–3) at least 2–3 times per week.

• Session Length: 45–60 minutes per session, conducted during the school day.

• Program Timeline: September 2026 to May 2027.

• Compensation: $18.00 / hour.

How to Apply

• Learn More: For additional details regarding our mission and impact, please visit the Reach Together Tutoring Program Website.

• Apply Now: Ready to join us? Complete the Math Coach Application today!

The last day to return any course materials purchased for the Summer 2026 Session II semester is Monday, July 13th.

*All books and materials must be returned in the same condition as purchased. Shrink wrapped books must be returned in original sealed shrink wrap for any refund. Receipt required.

Monday, July 13th is the last day to opt-out of CMI for Summer 2026 Session II courses. Opting out is done through the courses page on Blackboard. Adjustments to student's accounts occur after the opt-out deadline.

Visit bookstore.umbc.edu/cmi for more information on CMI, including the LIVE LIST with pricing and a guide to opting out.

Contact textbook@umbc.edu prior to the deadline if you have any questions or encounter any errors when opting out.  

*Please note, UMBC Hillel is not affiliated with or responsible for the hiring of the posted position*

Seeking Educators for Beth Am’s Jewish Discovery Lab

Beth Am Synagogue is looking for warm, creative, and enthusiastic educators to join our LAB religious school teaching team for the coming year.LAB, Beth Am’s Jewish Discovery Lab, is built around inquiry based, student led, and experiential Jewish learning. Teachers lead small classrooms and help bring Jewish learning to life through projects, art, movement, discussion, field trips, and other hands-on experiences. Our curriculum includes Hebrew reading, tefilah, Jewish texts, traditions, values, and identity.We are looking for people who:

• Enjoy working with children and building strong relationships
• Bring creativity, energy, and curiosity to Jewish learning
• Are excited about experiential and project-based learning
• Are reliable, collaborative, and open to feedback and coaching
• Want to help students connect Jewish learning to their own lives
• Are excited to be part of a supportive and growing educational community

Prior teaching experience is helpful, but it is not required. We welcome college students and others who are excited about working with children and Jewish education.

Schedule: Kindergarten and 1st grade meet Sundays from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM. 2nd through 7th grade meet Sundays from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM and Wednesdays from 4:15 PM to 6:15 PM. Educators who can teach only Sundays or only Wednesdays are encouraged to apply.

Location: Beth Am Synagogue in Baltimore’s Reservoir Hill neighborhood

Compensation: Competitive pay based on education and experience, including paid orientation, staff meetings, and preparation time during the week. Higher paid positions are available for experienced educators. A transportation stipend is available for eligible college students.

To Apply: Send a resume and a brief note about why you are interested to Leah Miller, Director of Youth & Family Education, at Leah@bethambaltimore.org.

The American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges is hosting a virtual school fair on Wednesday, July 15th, 12pm-5pm EST.

Connect with VMCAS representatives, admissions officers, and current veterinary students from Colleges and Schools of Veterinary Medicine — all in one virtual event.

Learn more about:

• Veterinary school prerequisites
• Required experiences
• The VMCAS application process
• Individual veterinary programs

Details and registration